Scotia Square


Scotia Square is a commercial development in Downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was built in the late sixties to mid seventies and is managed by Crombie REIT. It is connected to the Downtown Halifax Link and serves as a major Halifax Transit bus terminal in Halifax.

History

Scotia Square was constructed in 1967, a neighbourhood was previously located where the complex now stands with the Cogswell Interchange. Scotia Square had previous tenants such as Famous Players theatre and a Woolco department store. The food court was also known as the Port of Call.

Location and layout

Scotia Square consists of a mall, a hotel, and a number of office towers connected to each other and to other buildings by pedways and tunnels. In the centre of the complex is Scotia Square Mall and a large food court servicing the adjoining office buildings. The complex is adjacent to the Cogswell Interchange, and it fronts on Duke Street to the south, Barrington Street to the east, and Albemarle Street to the west.

Buildings

The Scotia Square Mall food court was renovated in 2014 and named The Mix by Crombie REIT. The court features 14 different food vendors ranging from large fast food chains like McDonald's to locally owned vendors like Mama Gratti's Deli & Market. Various upgrades to seating during the renovation allows large foot traffic during lunchtime rushes during the week. Being based toward servicing those working downtown the hours of operation of most food court tenants are 9:30a.m. to 6:00p.m.

Pedways and tunnels

An expansion of the Scotia Square shopping centre, along Barrington Street, is under construction. It was designed by DSRA Architects of Halifax. The three-storey development will include street-level commercial, as well as office and retail above. The changes would bring the site into better agreement with municipal design guidelines mandating more pedestrian-oriented districts.
Another future development, Westhill on Duke, is a proposed for the southwest corner of the complex on the corner of Duke Street and Albemarle Street. It comprises an 18-storey building with retail, residential, and office space with a more pedestrian-friendly streetscape than the current blank wall. Architects involved on the project are DSRA Architects and Zeidler Partnership Architects.